Process and apparatus for drawing sheet-glass



I. W. COLBURN.

PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR DRAWING SHEET GLASS.

APPLICATION FILED OCT.8,19I5.

1,394,809. Patented Oct. 25, 1921.

IIIIIII" I. w. COLBURN.

Patented Oct. 25, 1921.

4 SHEETSSHEET 2.

PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR DRAWIVNG SHEET GLASS. APPLICATION FILED UCT. 811915- 1,394,809.

l. W. COLBURN. PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR DRAWING SHEET GLASS. 1 394,809.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 8, 1915.

4 SHEETSSHEET 3- Patented Oct. 25, 1921.

I. W. COLBURN. PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR DRAWING SHEET GLASS.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 8,1915.

Patented Oct. 25, 1921.

4 SHEETSSHEET 4.

[IZVan for. WCaZZz/rn UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE. l"

- IRVING W. COLBURN, OF TOLEDO, OHIO, ASSIGNIOR,

IBY MIESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO

THE LIBBEY-OWENS SHEET GLASS COMPANY.

PROCESS AND'AIPPARATUS FOR DRAWING SHEET-GLASS.

Patented Oct. 25, 1921.

1,394,809. Specification of Letters Patent.

5 Application filed October a, 1915. Serial no. 54,714.

"To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, IRVING W. CoLBUnN, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Toledo, in the county of Lucas and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Processes and Apparatus fog Drawing Sheet-Glass, of whichthe following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

he invention relates to'the art of making sheet glass. The object of the invention is to provide a process and apparatus whereby sheet glass of uniform width and thickness may be drawn from the molten mass and subsequently annealed, after which it can be cut up into the desired sizes for the market. The invention consists in the process and apparatus for drawing the glass in a flat sheet horizontally, from the molten mass; in the mechanism for operating the drawing table either forward or backward; the means for regulating the temperature of the glass; in the construction ofthe glass holding apparatus or tank from which the glass is drawn; and in the arrangement and combination ,of the various parts as more fully hereinafter described and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a vertical central longitudinal section through the melting, cooling and drawing chambers, showing in full and dotted lines different forms of drawing chambers;

Fig. 2 is a sectipn through the drawing chamber, illustrating the construction of the cooling device therein; r

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the drawing device, showing the operating mechanism therefor;

Fig. 4c is a longitudinal section of the drive and clutch mechanism at the righthand end of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a longitudinal sectlon through the drawing mechanism and through the drawing table and grip-bars;

Fig. 6 is a sectional elevatlon looking at the front of the glass holder or tank shown in i 1. Fig? 7 is a front elevation, partly in Sectlon, of the operating handle for the reverse mechanism;

Fig. 8 is a side elevation of the reverse gear mechanism; and

Fig. 9 is a side elevation of the lever-controlled mechanism shown in Fig. 7, partly in section.

10 represents the continuous tank in which the batch is melted and from which it flows into a cooling tank, 11. At the forward end of the cooling tank is a drawing chamber,

12, the bottom of which is preferably formed I Between the chambers 10 and 11 I have.-

shown a jack-arch, 15, provided with an aircooling passage 16. 17 is an aperture in the wall of the chamber 11, through which bricks, 18, may be placed, on top of the jack-arch 15, to more or less restrict the passage, 19, for the gases passing from the chamber 10. 20 is an aperture. in the roof of the chamber 11, closed by a valve 21 which may be more or less opened to likewise aid in the temperature control of the chamber 11. 22 shows a burner opening through which a gas flame may be introduced when it is desired to increase the heat in the chamber 11. 23 is a jack-arch at the forward end of the chamber 11; provided with an air-passage, 24. 25 is an aperture for inserting the floater-block, 26, which aperture is ordinarily bricked up when the device is in use as is also the aperture 17.

In the side walls of the chamber 12 are apertures, 27, through which may be inserted metallic chambers, 28, having water inlet pipes, 29, andfoutlet pipes, 30. They are also provided at one end with extensions, 31, for supporting the same on theside wall of the tank opposite the, inlet opening. The

openings27 may use of the device.

32 isa jack-arch at .the front of the chamber 12; 33 is a raising and lowering closure for the opening at the front end of the also be bricked up in the chamber 12.

against the jack-arch 32.

The drawing tank or tile which forms the bottom of the drawing chamber 12 is shown as supported upon the foundatlon walls, 37, forming a heating chamber, 38, therein. Gas

. flames may be directed to this chamber from gas inlet openings, 39. a

To form a middle support for the tile 13 I build the middle partition or supportlng wall, 40, which,-as shownin Flg. 6, has reduced supporting points, 41, between wh1ch are gas passages, 42. Similar gas passages, 43, are formed at the bottom. I

V The side walls, 44, of the heating chamber .38 are spaced away from the sides of the tlle or tank 13, so as to leave vertical flues, 45, extending at the side of the same; gas outlets, 46 being rovided in the slde Walls.

48 is a coo ing water pipe arranged be tween the tank or tile 13 and the bottom, 49, of the tank, below the cooling chamber 11. i The drawing mechanism, 1n 1ts general construction and arrangement, 1s simllar to that shown in my previous Patent 966,653, comprising:

An endless drawing table, 50, wh1ch passes over sprocket-wheels, 51, 52, at opposite ends,

which sprocket-wheels are secured to shafts,

53,54. Above the drawing table is an endless chain or carrier comprising grip-bars, 55, which are hinged together to form an endless carrier and which pass over sprocketwheels, 56, 57, supported on shafts, 58,59.

This drawing mechanism 1s mclosed within suitable brick-work casing, 60, and I have shown the top as provided with vent openlngs, 61, for controlling the temperature. At the inlet end is a. tile division wall, 62, supported on a hollow iron mantleor cross-bar, 63, through whichnwater may be'passed to. cool it. v

64 are guides for of the drawing table.

66 is a heating chamber having gas outlet, 67, for heating the drawing chamber, and 68 is a gas chamber having an outlet, 69, for heatingthe leer chamber 70 and in wh1ch I have shown suitable supporting rolls, 71, upon which the, drawn glass passes into the leer or annealing oven.

the horizontal portion in a suitable framework on the 'The drive mechanism for the drawing table I have shown as capable of propelling the table in either direction; so that the bait can be drawn therethrough toward; the

tank or the glass can be drawn in the op-' posite direction through the drawing chamber and into the leer. nism is as 'follows:,',

70 represents the motor; 71' a train of gears for gearing back, the final gear, 72, of which is journaled on a stationary shaft, 73, drawing chamber. a rocking frame, dotted lines'in Fig. 8,) carrying at one end a drlving pinion, 75, and at the other end The actuating mechaside of the I Pivotedon this shaft is 74, (shown in full and two driving pinions, 76, 77, 1n mesh with 7 each other; the pinlons 75 and mesh with the driving'gea-r 72. gitudinal shaft journale'd in suitable bearmgs on the side of the drawing chamber, having thereon, at

53. At the other ing with a worm-wheel 84 on the shaft 54'; these worm-wheels being loose on the shaft and adapted to be controlled by clutch members, 85, adapted to be actuated by will .throw one clutch in and throw the other out, upon being rocked 1n one direction, and

reverse the operation by movement in the 1 clutch the shaft 53 to the worm-wheel 82 and its outer end, a worm, 81, 'meshmg with a worm-wheel, 82 on the shaft end is a worm, 83, mesh- 76being in;- 80 is a lonclutch yjokes, 86, on the rock shaft 87; the construc- -t1on being such that the rocking of the shaft unclutch the worm-wheel 84 from the shaft 54, or vice versa. When the lever 90 is rocked to throw in'the clutch-between thev shaft 53 and the worm-wheel 82,'the frame 74 is rocked to engage the pinion 75 with a gear-wheel 91, on the shaft 80,. which will cause the drawing table to move toward. the leer. When ,the lever'90 is moved in the reverse direction, so as to disengage the worm-wheel from the shaft 53 and en age the worm-wh'giel '84 withthe shaft 54, the frame 74 will be rocked to pinion 75 from the gear-wheel 91 and engage the pinion 77 with the-gear-wheel 91, thereby causing the shaft 54 to act asthe drive-shaft and move the drawing table in the reverse direction.

- This rocking of the frame 74 means of a rack, 92,

connected to the lever 90, engaglng'a pinion,

93 on astub-shaft, 94,

which stub-shaft is provlded at its end with disengage the is effected by? end thereof engaging a worm on a shaft, 96, which is geared to the shaft carrying sprocket-wheel 97, a sprocket-chain, 98, passing thereover and engaging with sprocketwheels 99 on the leer roll shafts.

The' endless grip-bar device is driven through a worm, 161, on the shaft 80, meshing w1th a worm-wheel, 1.62, on a stub-shaft 163, upon whichshaft is a sprocket-wheel (not shown) and over which passes a sprocket-chain 164, which passes over a sprocket-wheel, 165, on the shaft 58.

At the forward end of the device is an inwardly extending frame, 100, upon which are journaled hollow rolls, 101, 102 and 103; these rolls being provided at their ends with sprocket-wheels 104, 105 and 106', and which engage the sprocket-chain 107 which passes over a sprocket-wheel 160, on a shaft 108, which shaftis driven by means of intermediate gearing .from a worm-wheel 109 engaging a worm 110 on the shaft 80, as shown in Fig. 4.

The upper faces of these rolls are in line with the upper face of the drawing table, and they are geared so that they move at the same speed as the drawing table.

115 15 a bait, shown suspended upon a chain, 116, passing over a Windlass 117 and adapted to be lowered so that. it will rest upon the drawin tableflthrou h an aperture controlled by a oor, 118. en thus laid upon the table and the table moved toward can be brought to the front of the machine and engaged with the glass at the outlet end of the glass tank or at what may be called the drawing lip. When thus engaged the drawing table may be reversed and the bait,

with its attached glass, will be drawn through the machine and over tlie drawing table, and when it has reached a point below the windlass 117 it may be broken oif and the bait withdrawn; whereupon a continued motion'ofthe drawing table will continue to draw the glass from the tank over the rolls 101,102 and 103, and over the drawing table and carry it into the' leer.

I provide for the edges of the drawn sheetedge rolls, 120, which may be. of the construction. shown in my previous Patent 966,653. The function of these rolls, it is well understood, is to maintain the width of the sheet, and'the maybe driven in any suitable manner. n this'case I have shown them driven by means of a sprocket-wheel,

121, on the end of the shaft 150?, by means of a sprocket-chain 122 driving a shaft 123 which is provided with a telescopic extension, 124, havin onits end a beveled. pinion, 125, meshing wlth a beveledpinion 126, on a vertical shaft 127 which, by suitable gears,

. from the drawing rolls (not shown).

This drawing mechanism I have shown supported on wheels, 140, running on rails, 141, with vertical adjustment mechanism, 142, therefor, so that it can be raised and lowered to the desired height in relation to the drawing-lip of the machine and moved the desired distance from the drawing lip.

In using the machine to draw the glass sheet horizontally from the drawing-lip as shown in Fig. 1, the roll 101 is placed a material distance from the drawing lip,

which distance must be suflicient to enable the sheet'to 'draw to the desired thickness from the molten mass and to have formed upon it the natural finish or glaze so that when it contacts the roll 101 the roll will not affect or change, 'or mar, the natural finish of the glass.

It is obvious that the sheet, is being drawn in this form from the edge of the glass, unsupported and free to radiate its heat, will rapidly cool and the sheet will be drawn to its substantially finished thickness before it contacts the roll. The distance which the roll is separated from the drawing-lip depends largely upon the thickness of the glass which'it is desired to draw and the temper of the glass at the drawing point. This temperature can be controlled by means of the hinged cover 35 and the water coolers 28; also by means of the valve or slide 21 and the heat in the chamber 38. It is customary also to provide suitable gas burners inside of the chamber 12 which can be used if desired to raise the temperaturetherein. The glass being drawn .by the drawing table and grip-bars at the same speed that the rolls 101, 102 and 103 are driven, at no time will there be any rubbin action between the sheet and its supporti ng or drawing mechanism. While I have shown three of these rolls between the drawing table and the drawing lip, less or more may be used; indeed the glass might be drawn directly lip upon the drawing table. s

I have shown in dotted lines in big. 5 a hood 160, which may be placed above the rolls so as to retain the heat more or less at that point and prevent the too rapid coolat I claim as my invention is:

will drive'the shaft carrying the knurled '-1, The method of making sheet glass, conof. the glass before it reaches the drawin -table.

sisal, in meaa thebatch and flowing it latera ly in. a fluld-stateto a lateral outlet,

cooling the mass near the outlet, drawing a flat sheet laterally from the surface edge ,of the outlet, unsupported a suflicient d s- "tance to substantiallygage the sheet and form a glaze thereon,then in flattening the sheet by drawing it forward over supporting means, and cooling the sheet.-

2. The combination with a glass tank having an unimpededjlateral outlet for surface glass, means for gripping and drawing iaterally therefrom a sheet of glass, comprising 'a drawingtable, grippers for gripping the sheet to the table, and a support intermediatethe outlet and drawing table, the support being spaced from the outlet a SllfllClGIlt distance to enable a sheet to bedrawn free from support, and. to form and substantially gage the sheet and form the glaze thereon before contacting said support.

3. The combination with a glass tank having an unimpeded lateral outlet for the surface glass, of a glass drawing machine for drawing 'a sheet horizontally therefrom,

- said machinecomprising a supporting and drawing mechanismspaced from the tank outlet a sufiicient distance to cause the formation. of an unsupported sheet of the desired thickness, and means for moving said drawing and supporting means at the same speed as the sheet.

4. The combination with a glass tank'having an unimpeded lateral outlet for'the surface glass, of a-drawing means comprising a horizontal drawing table on which the drawn-sheet rests, and continuously moving gripper bars contacting the glass upon the table-supporting devices between the drawing table and tank, said supportingdevices' being driven at the same speed as the sheet,

V and being separated from the tank a 'suflicient distance to cause the formation ofian unsupported sheet of the desired'thiclmess before itcontacts the supportingmeans.

5. The combination with a glass tank havinganunimpeded lateral outlet for the surface glass, of a'machine for drawing sheet glass laterally therefrom, 1 comprising an endless horizontal drawing table, horizontally-moving grippers above the table, a

sufiicient distance to driving mechanism to the shafts to drive. one.

driven supporting roll between the tank and the'table, spaced from the drawinglip a v draw an unsupported .sheet to gage the sheet and .form'a "glaze thereon. i '1 6. In a sheet drawing machanism, the combination, of an endless drawing table, wheels at oppositeends over which it passes, shaft supporting the wheels, driving mechanism, and mechanism for connecting the shaftin one direction-Q and the other in the site direction. I l

op w {R111- ajsheet glass drawingmechanism,

the glass is drawn than slab on which the combination of an endless drawing table and grip-bars traveling above the same,

sprocket-wheels over which the endless drawing table passes, shafts supporting the wheels, a driving mechanism, connections 9. The method of forming sheet glass consisting in supplying glass in evenly distrlbuted' form to the surface of a slab. at

the rear of its discharge end and in the presence of a heated atmosphere, the glass flowing over the. 'slab by gravity andbeing drawn from its discharge the glass to predetermined size- 10. The method of forming sheet. glass,

end to stretch consisting in permitting molten glass to flow over a heat surrounded slab, and draw ing the glass from the slab, the .heat being less at the portion of the slab from which at the point of flow of the glass thereon.

11. The method of forming sheet glass,

consisting in providing a slab within a heat; ed chamber and projecting the discharge end thereof into a temperature which is less and causingv slab within v than that of the chamber, molten glass to 'flow onto the thechamber and. to be drawn from the discharge end thereof.

.12. The method of forming sheet glass,-

consisting in permitting molten glass to flow in a regulated stream onto andover a heated slab in the presence of a surrounding heat and drawing the glass from the slab, the

heat diminishingl -from-the portion of the t e portion thereoffrom drawn, the drawing sheet.

glass, first flows to, the "which the glass is stress being applied be- Y yond the point of set of the ill;

13. The method of forming sheet glass consisting inpermitting molten glass to flow over a slab in the presence 0 mosphere, and drawing the glass from. the H 12o1. 14. The method of ,forming sheet' glass f slab.

consisting in permitting molten glass to flow f aheated at- I over a slab disposed in a heated atmosphere,

cooling the glasstoward the discharge end of the slab, and drawing the. glass from th outer end of the slab.

:15. The method of forming sheet consisting in. permitting'molten glass to flow over a heated slab in the presence of a heat ed atmosphere, .and applying cont inuofus predetermined pull on the glass after leaving the slab to size the same.

16. The method of forming sheet glass consisting in flowing glass in a molten state over a heated slab in a heated atmosphere to flatten and temper the same, and applying a stretching pull to the glass after leaving the slab to size it.

17. The method of forming sheet glass consisting in permitting molten glass to flow over a slab in the presence of a surrounding heat. and drawing the glass from the slab, the heat being less at the portion of the slab from which the glass is drawn than at the piont of flow of the glass thereon.

18. In an apparatus of the class described, a heated chamber having an opening therein, a slabwithin the chamber and onto which the molten material may flow and be drawn therefrom in a continuous sheet form through said opening, and means for varying the size of the opening to regulate the temperature in the chamber.

19. In an apparatus ofrthe class described, a heated chamber having an opening therein, a slab disposed in a heat surrounded position in said chamber to, register with said opening, means for containing molten glass and permitting it to flow on said slab preparatory to passing over and being drawn from the slab in continuous sheet form.

20. The method of making sheet glass consisting in melting the batch and flowing it in shallow sheet form to the drawing point, tempering the mass while in such shallow sheet form. and then drawing laterally a sheet from the edge of said tempered mass and maintaining the drawn sheet free from contact with any surface until a glaze has formed thereon.

21. The combination with a glass tank. a flat tile or slab upon which the glass is adapted to flow in a shallow sheet form from the tank, means for'tempering the glass on the tile or slab, and means separated from the outer edge of the tile for laterally drawing a sheet from the tempered glass unsupported a suflicient distance to gage the sheet and form a glaze thereon.

22. The combination with a glass-melting tank, of a chamber, a flat tile or slab dividing said chamber into upper and lower compartments and upon which the glass flows in shallow sheet form from said tank, means for controlling the temperature in each of said compartments to temper the glass on said tile or slab, and sheet-glass drawing means adjacent the outer edgeof said tile or slab.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

IRVING W. COLBURN. 

